Shawn's Brain Surgery

Shawn Thompson is 42 years old. He is husband to Emily Brownstone Thompson. Father to his 13 year old daughter Jane and his 11 year old son Will. Jane is starting the seventh grade and she’s an avid sports player. Her favorite sports are basketball, volleyball, and track. Will loves to read and play video games. Will was born with significant health issues. Shawn throughout the years has worked with a number of foundations to help raise money for children and families like his own.

When Shawn was in his mid twenties a tumor was found in his brain near his pituitary gland. The pressure on his pituitary gland creates severe hormonal and chemical imbalances. For about 15 years Shawn has tried many different medications in the hopes of shrinking the tumor and hormone replacers to help balance his system. None of the medications have worked and in August of this year his doctor has told him that the tumor has grown significantly in size. If it grows any further, Shawn will lose his eyesight. Doctor's have informed him that Transsphenoidal Endoscopic Brain Surgery and a combination with Gamma Knife Radiosurgery (radiation) is necessary to remove the tumor. Shawn is scheduled for surgery on November 20th of this year, at the Mayo clinic in Rochester, Minnesota. 

I first met Shawn while I was working out in Corvallis at an amazing company I used to work at as a field technician. I’d been there less than a year or so before he was hired on where I was immediately drawn to his sense of humor, how he treated me and everyone with kindness, and his work ethic. He was still able to come to work and show off his genuine smile despite all the hardships being faced. We’d done several jobs on the road together-hundreds of miles away from home- and he’s always been able to make me laugh some good laughs. One thing that him and I always say to each other is that everything is all “perspective.” Synonymous with “attitude is everything,” but instead of that cliché we like to use “perspective,” because it really comes down to how we all look at everything. It’s a valuable lesson in what angle we view our reality around us in, as negative or positive, and Shawn is exceptional at focusing on and sharing positivity, because as he says, “it’s all about perspective.” Truly incredible when you feel his positivity comes from the heart.

For the family-as the day approaches quickly-they are trying to remain positive but the reality of the situation weighs heavily on their hearts. How couldn’t it? Shawn's health is primary but they also have the burden of worrying about finances. Assuming the surgery is a success Shawn will be unable to work for an unknown period of time. This is likely to be weeks or months that Shawn will be recovering. The family’s monthly bills unfortunately exceed Emily's pay all by herself. The medical bills are expected to be in the tens of thousands of dollars over the next few months and likely much more into the coming year(s). It isn’t the cost of the surgery alone (if that isn’t tremendous enough) it’s the post-surgery care and treatment and everything that comes after that still costs money. Insurance doesn't cover all the costs and the surgeon is out-of-network. 

Shawn is a devoted husband and father and he would do anything for his family! With the world on his shoulders, he’s been able to step-up and take care of his children in ways that most of us couldn’t even imagine. Living with a tumor for 15 years. As a father myself, I say count your blessings. I cannot stress that enough. I have the absolute utmost respect and pure admiration for my dear friend Shawn. He is one hell of an extraordinary human being and is absolutely worthy of any help he and his family can possibly receive.

Please help my friend Shawn. Thank you.